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28 Articles

DON’T MISS … AGAIN

I missed a buck last season. There, I said it. I don’t feel any better. The only thing that brings some relief is I took the deer with the next shot. You can read about it in the feature that starts on page 26. Misses happen, and I can accept that. The part that baffles me is I don’t know why I missed. If I hadn’t been steady, I could pin it on a wobbly rifle. If I had jerked the trigger or hadn’t followed through, I could blame it on poor shooting mechanics. If I had misjudged the distance or the wind, I could chalk it up to not paying attention. If I had been overly excited, I could point the finger at buck fever. But I honestly don’t recall…

DON’T MISS … AGAIN

TRENDING NOW AT GAME & FISH ONLINE

CATCH HUNGRY LARGEMOUTHS Season 3 of our exclusive online series, “Beyond the Bait,” focuses on the most popular tactics to catch largemouth bass. Find new episodes under “Watch.” LOVIN’ LITHIUM Read why lithium-based batteries are a game-changer in “Lithium Energizing the Way We Harness Marine Power” by Dr. Todd Kuhn from ICAST 2022. BE A PEPPER You’ll find dozens of great ways to prepare venison on gafmag.com, including fun-to-make Dr. Pepper Venison Jerky. Get more tasty ideas under “Recipes.” OWN YOUR HUNT Hunting in America finds its groove in October with multiple seasons in full swing. Check out “Ultimate Season” for videos, tips, new gear, recipes and more. HEAVIER THAN AIR Adam Heggenstaller takes a look at advancements in air guns, including the .25-caliber Umarex Origin, in “Hunting with Air for Small and Large Game.” ’YAK ATTACK Fishing kayaks continue to…

TRENDING NOW AT GAME & FISH ONLINE

TIP OF THE SPEAR

Pointy end forward. That’s how I was told to load ammunition into a gun, and it remains good advice. But over the past half century, the pointy end of ammunition—the bullet end—has gotten a lot pointier. The technical term for the forward end of a bullet is “meplat.” It’s derived from a French word that means the flat surface of cylinder. Few of our most modern bullets are flat on their pointy end, but the term remains in use. Since we’re discussing bullet anatomy, let’s dive in all the way. At the rear of the bullet is the base, and if tapered, it’s called a boattail. If it’s not tapered, it’s simply called a flat-base bullet. Ahead of the base is the bearing surface. This is the section of the bullet that…

TIP OF THE SPEAR

Countless pages have been written by so-called “expert” whitetail hunters who twist themselves into literary pretzels in an effort to talk you into staying home in October. Granted, October in the South is a great time for house painting if you’re so inclined. However, for the avid whitetail enthusiast, it’s also a good time to ground a big deer. As far as I’m concerned, there is no such thing as the dreaded “October lull.” Yes, you read that right. The October lull is fake news—it doesn’t happen. Now, you don’t have to take my word for it. You can do a quick bit of Google work and pull up the results of several recent studies done by wildlife researchers. According to many experts, whitetails limit their movement in October, so much so…

TRICK OUT A CARGO TRAILER FOR DEER CAMP

When a backcountry adventure calls, hunters need a secure base camp. Traditionally, canvas wall tents or nylon outfitter tents, along with cots, sleeping bags and portable kitchens have served well in these situations. More recently, some creative adventurers have been turning to enclosed cargo trailers, which can be converted into a mobile deer camp with most of the comforts of home. These trailers are blank canvases with four walls and high ceilings, and they can be loaded with everything from bullets and beans to sleeping quarters in a self-contained unit that can be locked up and stored in the offseason. When I started considering a cargo trailer for use as a deer-hunting base camp, I realized one of my friends had been down the road ahead of me. Joe Kiblinger, of Redmond,…

TRICK OUT A CARGO TRAILER FOR DEER CAMP

For at least two human generations, Western big-game managers have drilled into hunters the importance of winter range. Without south-facing slopes that amplify feeble winter sun, hardy shrubs that provide precious calories and low-elevation flats that blow clear of drifting snow, our mule deer and elk populations would never have flourished over the past decades. Conservation of these vital winter habitats, which, coincidentally, are also prime real estate for subdivisions, gas wells and base-camp lodges, has been synonymous with conservation of our big-game herds. It’s why our most valuable Western wildlife management areas are in foothills habitat. But new research suggests that maybe our conservation priorities have missed the mark. Yes, we need to continue to make room for wintering wildlife when they are at their most vulnerable. But researchers are increasingly…

STALKING SHADOWS

The lower halves of the rocky hills below Chinati Peak were in shadow when guide Robert Curry told me he had a place in mind that we had to check out while the light was still good. We’d been traversing those hills all afternoon, glassing for mule deer and mostly coming up empty, but now I could sense a heightened sense of excitement—almost urgency—in his voice. Robert had a hunch. “There are a couple hills where a good buck likes to hang out, and right about now is when he shows himself,” Robert explained. “I’ve seen him before more than once. We might be able to spot him from the road and make a stalk before dark.” By “road,” Robert was referring to a rutted, boulder-strewn pathway drivable only because there weren’t…

STALKING SHADOWS

MARLIN LEVER GUNS RETURN

Fans of lever-action rifles know that Marlin, a perennial favorite among lever-gun aficionados, has had some tough times. The good news: the brand is now on a major rebound, with Ruger having acquired the company in late 2020. The Marlin 1895 SBL I hunted with in West Texas last fall was one of the first Rugermade Marlin rifles to be taken afield, and Ruger Public Relations Manager Paul Pluff revealed to me that the mule deer I took with the .45-70 was the first big-game animal to fall to an 1895 manufactured under the new ownership. Ruger moved more than 100 truckloads of Marlin equipment and inventory to its production facility in Mayodan, N.C., in November 2020. Engineers conducted a complete design and production review, focused on improving manufacturing tolerances, accuracy,…

MARLIN LEVER GUNS RETURN

AROUND THE SOUTH

Don’t blink. Opening days are coming fast and furious, and every day could be the best one on the water or in the woods that you’ll have for months. Fall is right here, right now—and right now is not the time to get ready. It’s the time to get after it. Pack the truck. Load the boat. Make a plan. Over the next four weeks, the curtains rise on seasons for some of the most popular game and fish on the planet. The waiting is over, and October is what you’ve been waiting for. 1 BOTTOMLAND BUSHYTAILS Get yourself to Alabama’s gigantic hardwood bottoms for some the finest squirrel hunting in the country. Why now? Well, remember how many times you’ve sat in a treestand in October, watching hordes of bushy-tails feed…

AROUND THE SOUTH

What good is a knife that isn’t sharp? Whether you’re cleaning a mess of crappies or caping out a trophy buck, a dull knife can be maddening. The Outdoor Edge Edge-X Pro is a compact sharpener ideal for camp or to carry in your pack. The Edge-X Pro has a pivoting base with coarse and medium carbide bits set at 22 degrees, plus medium ceramic and fine ceramic abrasives. There’s also a tapered diamond rod for serrated edges, and a groove for sharpening fishing hooks. The rotating “X” base has four rubber foot pads, and the finger holder is also rubberized for a sure and safe grip. The Edge-X Pro measures just 1.6 by 3.9 by .7 inches and weighs 1.2 ounces. ($20; outdooredge.com)…

KNIFE REHAB 101

Even if it’s been buried in your backyard for a decade and turned to solid rust, almost any knife made with good steel is salvageable. All it takes are a few key components, the right tools and some elbow grease. Whether sheath knife or folder, the salvaging process is basically the same: get rid of the rust and gunk, then restore the knife’s blade and any corroded parts. As for rust removal, that presumes there is still some good steel left in the blade and within the handle. Any parts such as screws, spacers, bolster linings or blade that are susceptible to rust should be checked first. CLEAN IT UP Let’s assume you’re resurrecting a knife with a single straight-edge blade. First, thoroughly clean it. This might be as simple as using WD-40 or a…

KNIFE REHAB 101

DEAD IN THE WATER

Most anglers can catch active bass in ideal conditions by covering a lot of water with medium- to fast-retrieved baits. By doing so, they provoke fish that are in the mood to strike or eat. But when the bass aren’t in the mood, wise anglers know to shift their game to a very slow approach—as often it’s the only way to elicit a strike. If you can figure out how the weather and other variables affect the fish, and adjust your retrieve speed accordingly, you will catch more fish. However, bait speed control is the one area in which most bass fishermen encounter trouble. Let’s face it: Working a bait extremely slowly is difficult. Weekend fisherman and professionals alike avoid minimal-movement presentations, commonly referred to as “dead-sticking” due to the method’s…

DEAD IN THE WATER

Because deadsticking is such a slow technique employed when fish turn lethargic, bass often have plenty of time to eye a bait up and down. Because it is basically invisible in the water, fluorocarbon line shines when deadsticking. On top of that, and unlike monofilament, fluorocarbon line sinks. Seaguar InvizX is soft and very castable. The 100-percent fluorocarbon line is crystal-clear, disappearing in the water while providing an abrasion-resistant alternative to braided lines. InvizX holds knots tightly, is very sensitive and features small diameters, available in 4- to 25-pound test and 200-, 600- and 1,000-yard spools (from $24.99; seaguar.com). Berkley’s Trilene Professional Grade 100% Fluorocarbon offers anglers an extra-tough clear line that excels in the most inhospitable of aquatic environments. Trilene Professional Grade 100% Fluorocarbon is perfectly suited for skipping baits under…

Big carp are magnificent creatures, and targeting them in Southern waters is one of the most challenging, rewarding and enjoyable types of freshwater fishing. I’m not talking about dunking a wad of strawberry-flavored paste into a local pond for pale little five pounders. I mean the systematic pursuit of 20-, 30- and 40-pounders—big golden beasts with impressive scaling that will test all your fishing smarts and amaze you with their passion for a fight. You’ve always been told carp are trash, an invasive species that uproots vegetation and muddies the water while crowding out native gamefish. While there’s an element of truth to this characterization in certain localized situations, carp are also a very easy scapegoat for broader water quality and fishery management issues. The reality is that common carp were introduced…

If carp are in the news these days, it’s usually the invasive Asian carp. A collective of state agencies combating this harmful species has an informational website (invasivecarp.us) that outlines the steps they’re taking to control the spread of these true undesirables, with illustrations of what to look for. It should be noted that small numbers of triploid (sterile) grass carp are intentionally stocked in many Southern waters by state agencies for weed control. They can’t reproduce and shouldn’t be any cause for concern. CRAIG BUDDO (BELOW); TOM MARTINEAU, THE RAW SPIRIT (ABOVE)…

LIVING ON THE EDGE

Ididn’t hunt as a youngster, but fished all the time with my dad and grandfather. Bass was the game, and I quickly learned that the most fish are found along discernible underwater edges. Later in life, when the hunting bug had consumed me, I learned that the most whitetail activity occurs in and around edge cover as well, lessons learned from both experience and reading scientific studies that weren’t even thought about when I was a tadpole. You also know this, but that’s schoolkid education. Go to graduate school, and you quickly discover not all edges are created equal. Move away from the obvious—food plots or crop fields that border woodlots, for example—and look for less obvious edges outside manicured settings, and you’ll be well on your way to better deer…

LIVING ON THE EDGE

The Hawk Ultra-Lite Climber ($329.99; hawkhunting.com) weighs 20 pounds and has a 300-pound capacity. It features a 20-by-27-inch-wide standing platform and a very comfortable hammock-like net seat, and it folds flat for easy packing. The Hawk climber has padded arm rests, easily adjustable cables and all-welded construction for quiet operation. Neoprene backpack straps make it easy to carry long distances without fatigue. Ol’Man made one of the first flexible cable climbers to hit the market. The Alumalite CTS ($339.99; millennium-outdoors.com) weighs 21 pounds and has a 300-pound capacity. The 18-by-32-inch platform offers plenty of foot space, while the seating platform features a patented 21-inch-wide, nylon-webbed, trampoline-style seat, pivoting spreader arms, oval tubing and an improved cable system that makes set up quiet and simple. Another long-time leader in climbing treestand technology, Summit…

Two types of squirrels—the fox squirrel and gray squirrel—are hunted in the South. Both of these small-game animals present challenges for inexperienced hunters. But, despite the fact that fox squirrels are much larger and more colorful, it is this species that eludes its pursuers more often, making it a special prize. A gray squirrel that knows a hunter is nearby will often race up the nearest tree and scamper out of sight. Or it will “timber out,” jumping from branch to branch high above the ground. The heavier, less agile fox squirrel uses different escape tactics. Instead of rushing up and away, ol’ foxy will sprawl out on a limb and lay still in hopes of being overlooked. Or it may curl up and hide in a tree fork. If the hunter…

SQUIRREL NIRVANA

One of the best squirrel hunting areas in the southern United States—the Ouachita National Forest—includes more than 1.78 million acres of mountains, ridges, lakes and streams in 13 central and western Arkansas counties, plus two counties in southeastern Oklahoma. Some of the best hunting is on seven Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in or near the national forest. These are Ft. Chaffee WMA just east of Ft. Smith in Crawford, Franklin, Logan and Sebastian counties (42,000 acres); Caney Creek WMA southeast of Mena in Polk, Howard, Pike and Montgomery counties (85,000 acres); Muddy Creek WMA southwest of Danville in Yell, Montgomery and Scott counties (146,206 acres); Howard County WMA northeast of DeQueen in Howard County (27,000 acres); Lake Greeson WMA north of Nashville in Pike and Howard…

Backing his truck down to the water’s edge, Scott Cunningham set the parking brake as insurance against the steep grade and slid his Super Puma inflatable boat into the current. Cunningham operates On the Fly Guide Service (nconthefly. com), and has access to many launching and takeout ramps along North Carolina’s Toe River system. Sloshing sand and silt from his wading shoes, he hopped in to man the oars. Before the first smallmouth-holding cover came into view, he asked me to cast a popping bug behind a rock just off the opposite bank. I asked whether he wanted it presented upstream or downstream, then landed the bug behind the rock with a curve cast. With that we were off, with Cunningham skillfully drifting and maneuvering through the current, navigating to ideal spots…

WHILE YOU’RE THERE

A visit to the Toe should include driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, which has some of the most spectacular fall scenery in the nation. Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, at mile marker 364.5, has trails and scenic overlooks, with the Mountains to the Sea Trail passing through the Visitor Center. It is also a hub for Snowball Mountain Trail, Stony Fork Trail, Craggy Gardens Trail, Craggy Pinnacle Trail and Douglas Falls Trail. Scenic overlooks with vehicle access near the visitor center include Graybeard Mountain Overlook and Glassmine Falls Overlook. Grandfather Mountain State Park is located at mile marker 305.1. Hikers can walk several trails and cross the Mile High Swinging Bridge. Linville Falls Visitor Center is located at mile marker 316.4. It has two trails offering scenic views of the Linville River,…

WHILE YOU’RE THERE

CAST-AND-BLAST OPPORTUNITIES

As the water cools throughout October, Cunningham will often let his clients fish for trout if they wish. Delayed Harvest waters in the North Toe River system occur from the U.S. 19E Bridge to the N.C. 226 Bridge. Designated Hatchery Supported Waters occur in the North Toe from the Avery County line to the S.R. 1121 Bridge. Other designated trout waters occur in feeder creeks. The nearby Pisgah National Forest has excellent small-game hunting, with seasons opening for ruffed grouse and squirrels now. Blackpowder and archery deer seasons also open in October.…

THE MOOSE OF MIRKWOOD

We woke at 3 a.m. to hot black coffee and a steady, 25 mph wind howling down the junction of the St. John and Allagash rivers. After loading the truck, we headed out for an hours-long, spine-jarring ride down logging roads. As I bounced around inside the cab, I thought about how I had been waiting nearly half my life to be here, the North Maine Woods, hunting moose. I climbed stiffly out of the truck as the thermometer rose to 28 degrees, a temperature I rarely see anymore, having moved to Florida 17 years ago. After several close calls with fully loaded logging rigs whizzing past us in the dark at high speed on the dirt road, we were happy to be out of the truck. My guide Nate Desrosier…

THE MOOSE OF MIRKWOOD

MONITORING MAINE’S MOOSE

While doing research prior to my hunt, I connected with Alaina Woods, a doctorate student at the University of Maine Wildlife Disease Genetics Lab, to assist with the lab’s Maine moose health study. The study is being led by Dr. Pauline Kamath and conducted in collaboration with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The moose population in northern Maine has, for the last hundred years or so, been plagued with an ever-increasing number of winter ticks, also called moose ticks. Some of the animals that have been collared and tracked have had up to 90,000 ticks on them. Most adult moose can survive the infestations, though they rub so hard on trees to get rid of the ticks that they remove most of their hair and are referred to…

MONITORING MAINE’S MOOSE

Maine’s moose are huge, and their habitat can make recovery difficult, so be sure to take a rifle and cartridge capable of quickly downing an animal that averages 1,100 pounds. I went with the bolt-action Benelli Lupo in .300 Win. Mag (benelliusa.com). The rifle’s excellent ergonomics aided handling in difficult terrain and thick vegetation, and its accuracy resulted in one well-placed shot—the only one needed to drop my bull. I paired the rifle with Remington 180-grain Core-Lokt Tipped ammunition (remington.com), a load that features an updated version of Big Green’s flagship big-game bullet. The polymer tip improves the bullet’s ballistic coefficient and helps initiate expansion, while the mechanically locked core and tapered jacket help retain weight. The wound channel created by the bullet in my moose was wide, deep and deadly. Navigating…

THE LIGHTER SIDE

It’s a simple tactic but one that works: Get away from crowds by hunting areas that require long walks to access. Not many hunters are willing to put in the effort to go the distance, and pieces of public ground that are relatively undisturbed often become havens for game. A hike measured in miles instead of yards is more enjoyable, and typically takes less time, when your gear isn’t a burden. Even when the hike isn’t a long one, lightweight rifles encourage you to keep them in your hands, ready for a quick shot, instead of slung over a shoulder. There are some extremely lightweight rifles available from manufacturers who specialize in cutting weight, but any well-balanced model that weighs less than 7 pounds will usually feel pretty good cradled in…

THE LIGHTER SIDE

SPOT RANGE SHOOT

It is true that you get what you pay for when purchasing optics, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune. The new crop of laser-rangefinding binoculars that pull triple duty as observation tools, rangefinders and ballistic computers are good examples. While price is typically dictated by the quality of materials (mainly glass) and construction, these build characteristics are only part of it. Rangefinding binos come with a wide variety of electronic features, and the more options they offer and ballistic calculations they perform, the more they cost. Considering what technological features you’ll use—and what you won’t—helps determine how much you’ll have to spend. BUSHNELL FUSION X MSRP: $699.99Magnification: 10XObjective Diameter: 42 mmLength: 7"Width: 5 1/2"Weight: 35 oz.Max Ranging Distance: 700 yds., deer; 1 mile, reflective objectbushnell.com Combining two optics into…

SPOT RANGE SHOOT

THE PROBLEM WITH PRIDE

It was a warm evening in early October when Shane, his father and his father’s new employee, Wayne, hopped out of the pickup truck near the lake shore. Wayne said he had fished often in his home state of Minnesota, but he hadn’t gotten to fish much since moving South. As the men carried the boat to the water, Shane grabbed the tackle box and looked over an assorted pile of fishing rods. “Mr. Wayne,” he asked, “what rod and reel do you want? There’s an Ambassadeur with a medium-heavy rod, a Shimano Curado on a fast action and a Zebco 303.” “Got a spinning reel?” asked Wayne. “No sir.” “What do you use?” “I’m a Shimano man myself,” replied Shane, “but I use a real stiff rod because I throw plastic worms a lot,…

THE PROBLEM WITH PRIDE

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